A Second Chance

Part 5 - Finally!

As soon as he entered his room, he put the books on the table, undress and took a cold shower. Wore his favorite sleepwear, boxer shorts. Turned off the light but left the bedside light on, took her book and lay down his bed.

He examine the book from front to back. He open it and look at her name again, NICOMAINE MENDOZA. Finally, the face has a name. He knew he can easily get her name. But he chose not to. Even his friends didn't know his budding attraction to her. He didn't know how and when he started liking her. All he know is they bumped their shoulders. Yes, they met at first bump. They both said sorry. She was with a girl classmate and they were chatting and laughing. He love her laugh. She returned her attention back to her friend while he resumed walking as if nothing happened. But in that split second they looked at each other, he noticed her lovely smile that radiated in her eyes...and he liked it. He like her laugh, he like her eyes...he like her...Little did he know it was the start of his attraction to her. He would secretly look for her after his class. He would stay up a bit in the corridor just to see her walk up to the room. Sometimes he would intentionally cross path with her in the corridor or just by the classroom door. She would look at him, he at her. And everytime their eyes met, his heart skips a beat. My God!...she has the most expressive eyes he has ever seen...

Sam and Jerald noticed his new hobby of staying around a bit in the corridor. Richard never thought they were observing him. He thought he was being discreet. But as they say, you can never keep a secret from your friends. Until they are sure that something's up, the cats cornered the mouse. They can't make him say who the girl is but he was caught red-handed when he took a picture of her one afternoon. The teasing never stopped until he told them he had a crush on the girl but to never tell anyone about it. Sam and Jerald promised and made sure over their dead macho bodies to never tell a soul. Well, good 'ol braggart friends are hard to find these days...

He returned his attention to the book. He was turning the pages when a small paper fell. He pick it up and look at a facial caricature. The edges of the paper are smeared with pastel colors. But the face was left black and white.

'Hmm...' He look intently. He suddenly sat upright on his bed, realizing what he was looking at.

'What the eff....!' He look for his phone and dialed Sam.

Sam answered...'Sam! Are you already home?'....'ok, good..video-con tayo sa skype...as in now na'...

He dialed Jerald's number and said the same thing.

Richard turned-on his desktop and opened his skype...called Sam and Jerald.

As soon as they are set up. Richard showed the paper to them
'What do you see?' He both ask his friends

'it's a caricature' Sam

'ano ba yan papi, parang doodle lang yan e' Jerald

'Look closely guys' pilit ni Richard and move the paper closer to the monitor

'Ok so it's a face. A facial caricature ba tawag jan?' Ask Sam

'Yes, it's a facial caricature' Richard agreed. 'But who do you see?' Excited na tanong ni Richard.

'Papi, kung kilala mo siya sabihin mo na lang sa amin.... papahulaan mo pa e...sayang naman effort ko oh' reklamo ni Jerald

'Hay naku Je..ewan ko sa'yo...pero guys I just wanna make sure if tama ako...ikaw Sam, who do you see?'

'Wait Rich...' Sam look carefully...lightly scratching his chin...'Hmm...looks like it's you?' He move his face closer to the screen...'yep, it's definitely you...the dimple is there' Sam confirmed.

'Patingin nga ulit' Jerald said....'oo nga no....unang tingin kasi prang mga bulateng nagkagulo lang eh' he joke...'Bat nagppractice ka? sasali ka ba ng art contest?' Ask Jerald